The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-07-29
INDUSTRIAL Topics.
Reasons Why Agricultural Col
leges Have Not Accomplished
What Was Expected.
DO Not Improve yYith 80.

grant agrlculLural colleges Of the coun-
try, as presented at the recent COM
mencement, is not encouraging, saws
The Chicago Times. The attendance
at most of them is very small, and Of
the number who enter but few gradu-
ate. Especially is this true OF those ao-
ricultural colleges that we're mede de-
partments of old colleges or uniyersi-
ties, chiefly for the purpose of securing
the fund obtained by the sale Of the
land granted by act of congress. The
University Of Illinois was not an old
institution, but was organized for the
avowed purpose of affording facilities
for obtaining an education in the indus
trial arts and sciences. especially agri-
culture, horticulture, and stock k-raisino.
Apparently mistake was made in
attempting to do too much. Some
Twelve colleges were organized and put
in operation, and among them was one
intended to prepare young men for the
business of farming. Il received but a
small proportion of the income Of The
fund derived from the sale of public
land, or of the money appropriated by
the legislature of the state. 1t has at
tracted scarcely any attention, and has
sgs almost been lost sight Of
The sixteenth annual commencement
Af the university took place a few weeks
sSakp, on whie!t-oceasion twenty men
faduated, not one of whom was from
Jueeollege Of agriculture or hortieul-
Uge. 1t was for founding an agricul-
Il college that congress granted
ely half a million acres of public
az It was for supporting an agricul-
,lral college that the legislature Of Hi
nois has been making appropriations
for the past twenty i've years But
this school for the sons of farmers has
been completely overshadowed by the
colleges OF literature, art science. engi-
neering, and applied chemistry. fhe
Farmer, of St Paul, in commenting on
the condition of affairs, says:
The report Of the recent commencement ex-
ercises at the University of Illinois formerly
the Industrial university, RIVALS the fact that
there was not a single graduate fl the
agricultural department or so-called college Of
agriculture. Yet here 10 an institution found.
ed upon the fund arising from the maguia-
cent donation Of 4S0, 900 acres OF public land
the establishment Of an institution whose
leading object should be the teaclliilg Of such
branches Of learning as are related to agri-
culture and the mechanic arts This seems
all the more disappointing because that in
stitution has been pointed to "a one Of the
successful agricultural schools of the country
by those who contend that an agricultural
department. can flourish ia conjunction with
other schools or colleges The University Of
Illinois is q collection Of eo.ealed colleges
and we notice that there we're graduates this
year In all of them except the college of agri-
culture. The University Of Minnesota is also
collection Of colleges. From is agricullur-
al college this year We believe that It graduat-
ed two students SO far we may conclude
that these two institutions do nos pgoye very
conclusiyely that the agricultural college
holds it's own when students are left TO choose
between agricultural aud other courses OF
study, or where the: taste, education. and ten
dtncy of the faculty lead away from agricul-
ture Instead of always toward IL
Observation shows that the plan of
uniting an agricultural college with
colleges of art, science, and literature
does not work we'll Tho agricultural
colleges in this country that have been
most successful are hose that have no
connection with other colleges. The
same is true Of the agricultural schools
in every country in Europe. Making
an agricultural school one q a eellee-
ton to which the name university was
given was great mistake. Another
great mistake was in not putting dis
tinguished farmer at the head of every
agricultural SCHOOL The president Of
every successful medical school in the
country is doctor Of at lcast consider
able celebrity. The president or dean
of every successful law school is man
OF high legal attainmcnta No theolog-
ical seminary has other than q dlstin-s
guished divine at the heakl OF i4;; ortlin-
arily his reputation is known to every
member of the religious denomination
the school il designed To prepare minls-
ters for. It should be no marvel that
an agricultural college does not suc-
ceed which IS under the direction Of
man who has no knowledge Of any Of
the arts and sciences that pertain to
husbandry. He may be an excellent
general scholar, but be Is deficient IN
the knowledge that pertains 20 agricul-
ture, horticulture, and the breeding and
management ef animals. he is not iltteti
for the position He viii notsucceed IN
gaining the confidence Of farmers or q
their sons He can not interest them
in the work the school over which he
presides was designed to perform. dc
can not inspire enthusiasm among stu
dents If agriculture, for lle i deficient
in il himself
Our agricultural colleges made a
poor start They ware called into exis-
tence before there WAS any popular
demand for them. The number Of
young mon who we're lsungefing and
thirstsag to spend several yeaEs and
eonsideyahIe amonat q nioner ia OBJ
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